The Australian Mud Company (AMC), a drilling fluids and products company, has launched a number of products aimed at making the mining industry more sustainable with far less impact on the environment.

Recent releases include a range of ecologically sensitive bio-chemical products, known as Eco Nutria, which enable the in-situ treatment and remediation of petro hydrocarbons such as oil, diesel or polymers, from drilling rig sites. All products within the range are manufactured from natural materials and fibres, are biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

AMC’s environmental manager Kelvin Bray says, “These Eco Nutria products are also vastly more cost effective when compared to offsite incineration and disposal of contaminated soil and liquids.

“The new products will help remediate drilling sites in an environmentally sound and cost effective way making it easier for drilling contractors and mining companies to meet their environmental requirements in a changing regulatory environment.”

AMC established an Equipment and Rental Division in January 2008 to service the demands of customers in the mineral drilling industry. Since that time the division has been developing prototypes and conducting field trials to finalize its equipment range, which includes annular bags, wire line lubricators, Sykes fluid transfer pumps, frac tanks and diamond drilling solids control units.

The latter is a unique product that allows general diamond drilling operations without the need to dig conventional ground pits. The unit provides a self-contained and self-powered diamond drilling fluid system which allows for effective solids removal and fluid property management. It has a small site footprint, there are reduced costs associated with site set up and remediation, uses less water, allows better fluid property control, and helps overcome environmental, heritage and physical issues.

AMC Drilling Fluids divisional manager Paul Mander says, “AMC has always invested in research and development to provide our customers with environmental and value adding alternatives, and increasingly our customers are demanding these options.

“The Eco Nutria products and rental equipment will complement the company’s extensive range of drilling fluids and chemicals, allowing AMC to offer a complete solution to the mineral drilling industry.”

Another recent AMC initiative is DustDown, a specially formulated product designed to protect gravel road surfaces and eliminate dust.

DustDown penetrates the road surface and with time forms a layer on the road surface which then needs less spraying. Roads treated with DustDown do not develop a slippery surface when wet. The product has applications for dust prevention and suppression on mine roads, haul roads and gravel roads. It also increases tyre life and reduces vehicle maintenance.

The Australian Mud Company was incorporated in January 1988 for the purpose of supplying drilling fluids to the mineral and water well industries throughout Australia . Since then it has diversified its product range to cater for the mineral, oil and gas, water well, horizontal directional drilling, and tunneling industries worldwide.

AMC forms an important part of the Drilling Fluids and Chemicals Division of Imdex Limited, a Western Australian-based company which provides drilling fluids and leading down hole instrumentation to the oil and gas, mineral, water well, horizontal directional drilling and civil industries worldwide. The company has a presence in all of the significant mining and exploration regions including Canada , Latin America , Africa and Asia Pacific.

www.ausmud.com or www.imdexlimited.com